Posted Jul. 4, 2013, 11:48 am

Brenton Garen / Editor-in-Chief

For the seventh year in a row, the Santa Monica community came together for the Ocean Park Association’s highly successful 4th of July Parade along Main Street.

The parade, which this year had the theme heroes, began at 9:30 am outside the Civic Auditorium.

It proceeded south down a closed off Main Street before turning west on Marine before ending on Barnard Way near the end of Ocean Park Boulevard.

The Grand Marshal was Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks.

“I am fiercely proud to represent today’s heroes, the men and women of the Santa Monica Police Department,” Seabrooks said. “I am privileged to be able to celebrate our heroes past and present not only as our parade’s Grand Marshal but also as this community’s Police Chief and I’m loving it.”

Along with Chief Seabrooks, the Santa Monica Girl Scout Color Guard led the parade.

Local dignitaries in the parade included City Council members Pam O’Connor, Terry O’Day, Gleam Davis, Bob Holbrook, Kevin McKeown, Tony Vazquez, and Ted Winterer, and former Santa Monica Mayor and current Assemblyman Richard Bloom.

Keeping the faith with sustainability all dignitaries rode in electric cars. However, vintage cars were once again the exception to the green rule. And the low riders were back again this year too.

Music came from the Samohi Marching Band, The Mariachi Conservatory, the Santa Monica Youth Symphony, the Americans, the FU Dogs and more.

Bike groups Bike Attack and the Freedom Riders and lots of neighborhood kids decorated bikes for the parade.

The Santa Monica Mounted Police and a public group called the Santa Monica Mounted Posse showed off their beautiful horses and their horsemanship.

Local groups the Running of the Grunion and the Euclideans as well as local schools SMASH, the Edison Language Academy, the Growing Place, and Mount Olive Preschool also strutted their stuff.